4 ms·

83 year-old woman got 3D printed mandible

50 points by DanielRibeiro 15y ago

tuacker 15y ago
Just watched this TED talk today[1] and mentioned to a friend that 3D printing is going to be "really, really cool". While the video probably won't show anything new for your average hacker here it might be a good introduction for people around you. Creating a lower jaw within a few hours is "really, really cool". [1] http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printing.html http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printin...
sp332 15y ago
I'm extremely impressed that this just took a few hours. How did they get the right shape? Did they just print a copy of an old (pre-infection) scan of her mandible? Or did a doctor "clean up" the scan of her current, damaged jaw?
- Luc 15y ago
  That's just the printing time. Designing the jaw took much longer (it's a complex joint apparently), and after printing it needed to be polished and coated in a bio-compatible layer by a different company. Printer's press release: http://www.layerwise.com/en/news/layerwise-builds-the-world%E2%80%99s-first-patient-specific-lower-jaw http://www.layerwise.com/en/news/layerwise-builds-the-world%...
  - Someone 15y ago
    About that 'apparently': I guess they would take their time for any joint, but a jaw is special in two ways: - it hinges at two points. As with doors, those must be t exactly the right distance of each other, or the thing simply will not fit, and be perfectly in line, or rotating the thing will cause huge forces on those hinges. I guess these could easily break of the new jaw or, worse, parts of the upper jaw. - it must close perfectly flat; you do not want to have only a few teeth touch when it is maximally closed.
tomjen3 15y ago
Pretty cool. I am looking forward to when we can print an new spine and other major bones.
xenophanes 15y ago
Neat. What material is it made out of?
- ot 15y ago
  Titanium. Reminded me of this website where you can send a 3D drawing and get it printed in titanium (among other materials): http://i.materialise.com/materials/titanium http://i.materialise.com/materials/titanium
MSexton 15y ago
The University's press release: http://www.uhasselt.be/UH/Tijdschriften/ToonPersmededeling.html?i=482 http://www.uhasselt.be/UH/Tijdschriften/ToonPersmededeling.h...
benologist 15y ago
Pointless summary of http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120203-83-year-old-woman-got-3d-printed-mandible.html http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120203-83-year-old-woman-got...
agumonkey 15y ago
and there's even a youtube 'animated slides': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1jUABA6A4&feature=youtu.be (skynet will be their main customers) kudos to the whole team(s)

50 points by DanielRibeiro 15y ago

Just watched this TED talk today[1] and mentioned to a friend that 3D printing is going to be "really, really cool". While the video probably won't show anything new for your average hacker here it might be a good introduction for people around you. Creating a lower jaw within a few hours is "really, really cool". [1] http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printing.html http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printin...

sp332 15y ago

I'm extremely impressed that this just took a few hours. How did they get the right shape? Did they just print a copy of an old (pre-infection) scan of her mandible? Or did a doctor "clean up" the scan of her current, damaged jaw?

Luc 15y ago
That's just the printing time. Designing the jaw took much longer (it's a complex joint apparently), and after printing it needed to be polished and coated in a bio-compatible layer by a different company. Printer's press release: http://www.layerwise.com/en/news/layerwise-builds-the-world%E2%80%99s-first-patient-specific-lower-jaw http://www.layerwise.com/en/news/layerwise-builds-the-world%...
- Someone 15y ago
  About that 'apparently': I guess they would take their time for any joint, but a jaw is special in two ways: - it hinges at two points. As with doors, those must be t exactly the right distance of each other, or the thing simply will not fit, and be perfectly in line, or rotating the thing will cause huge forces on those hinges. I guess these could easily break of the new jaw or, worse, parts of the upper jaw. - it must close perfectly flat; you do not want to have only a few teeth touch when it is maximally closed.

tomjen3 15y ago

Pretty cool. I am looking forward to when we can print an new spine and other major bones.

xenophanes 15y ago

Neat. What material is it made out of?

ot 15y ago
Titanium. Reminded me of this website where you can send a 3D drawing and get it printed in titanium (among other materials): http://i.materialise.com/materials/titanium http://i.materialise.com/materials/titanium

MSexton 15y ago

The University's press release: http://www.uhasselt.be/UH/Tijdschriften/ToonPersmededeling.html?i=482 http://www.uhasselt.be/UH/Tijdschriften/ToonPersmededeling.h...

benologist 15y ago

Pointless summary of http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120203-83-year-old-woman-got-3d-printed-mandible.html http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120203-83-year-old-woman-got...

agumonkey 15y ago

and there's even a youtube 'animated slides': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1jUABA6A4&feature=youtu.be (skynet will be their main customers) kudos to the whole team(s)